Dee Dee Butterfield, a cousin of Lowell Richey, told Action 7 News the boys are in critical condition. Butterfield said the boys have broken jaws and broken ribs. Alexander has broken legs and will undergo pancreatic surgery soon. He has not regained consciousness, Butterfield said.

State police said Friday the families were traveling to bring the ashes of Lowell Richey's mother to Albuquerque. Police said the families planned on stopping in Ruidoso and possibly staying the night and then continue to Albuquerque.

Police said they were able to locate the mother's remains in an urn at the crash site. The remains are intact, investigators said.

Butterfield said a family member is coming to pick up the remains, then go to El Paso to see the boys.

Lowell Richey had been a Justice Advocate General in the Navy, Butterfield said.

Officials said the plane tried to land at the Sierra Blanca Regional Airport runway, but missed.

"The aircraft was apparently landing when it crashed just off the end of the runway," Lunsford said.

An airport employee told Action 7 News off camera that he saw the plane crash, and that the plane looked very unsteady in the air before it fell short of the runway.

"The pilot came in too low, too close to the airport, and subsequently dropped at a quick speed," said Garcia.

Airport director Bill Morris said flying into the airport can present some challenges.

"The pilots that fly into here have to learn how to do that, " said Morris. "It is a high altitude airport, and there are certain conditions that they have to understand."

The airport is no longer letting any flights come in and out of the airport while investigators process the scene. Both of the airport's runaways were closed, airport officials said.

Authorities said the private twin-engine Cessna 310's tail number shows the airplane is registered to Rod Aviation in Granbury, Texas.

FAA officials said the pilot did not file a flight plan to let airport officials know how many passengers were on the plane or how long the flight would be, but did say that the pilot did receive a weather briefing Wednesday for flight conditions between Cleburne and Ruidoso.

FAA officials said there was no contact with air traffic controllers.

"At 9:50, that was the last contact the airport had with a pilot, indicating they were inbound, about to land," said Garcia. "In a matter of five minutes, witnesses standing out on the flight strip itself indicated they saw the plane go down in a rapid manner."

National Transportation Safety Board officials said Friday that weather was not a factor in the crash, but the weight the small plane was carrying may have been.

NTSB officials said the plane was a six-seater, but that there were seven people inside. Officials said it's not clear whether the plane could fly with that much weight, so they're investigating the center of gravity.

Investigators estimate a one-year time frame to determine the cause.

The crash sparked a fire that burned about an acre of forest near the end of the runway. Firefighters were able to get the flames under control.